At the invitation of Vice Premier Ma Kai of the State Council, Deputy Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic Ioannis Dragasakis will pay an official visit to China from March 25 to 28.
Q: More than 100 people were killed and hundreds injured in the suicide bombing attacks against two mosques in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen on March 20. What is China's comment?
A: The Chinese side strongly condemns the terrorist bombing attacks in Yemen's capital Sanaa which caused heavy casualties. It is hoped that all relevant parties in Yemen would strengthen solidarity and make joint efforts to realize national stability and development at an early date.
Q: The new round of negotiation on a comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue was held in Switzerland the other day. What is China's comment on this round of talks? What role will China continue to play?
A: The P5+1, Iran and the EU met in Lausanne, Switzerland for a new round of negotiation on a comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue. During the negotiation which was adjourned on March 20, all participants demonstrated strong political will, pragmatic attitude for negotiation and innovative thinking. Important progress was made, and gaps still remain.
The negotiation on a comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue has come to a critical point. It is like rowing upstream, if we slacken our efforts, we will go backwards. All parties concerned should build up political will, work towards the shared goal, waste no time in making political decisions and make joint efforts to clinch a final deal through negotiation.
The Chinese side holds an objective and unbiased position and plays a constructive role in advancing the negotiation on the Iranian nuclear issue. The Chinese side put forward a host of "China solution" and "China thinking" on relevant focal and thorny problems during the negotiations to bridge differences among all parties and contribute "China wisdom" to the negotiations. We will continue to make relentless efforts together with other parties.
Q: Who will attend the funeral of former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on behalf of China?
A: Following the passing of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, Chairman Zhang Dejiang and Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli have respectively sent condolence messages to Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob and Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean to mourn the passing of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and extend sincere sympathy to the Singaporean government and people as well as the relatives of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. The Chinese leadership will attend the mourning and funeral service upon invitation.
Q: Malcolm Fraser, the former Australian prime minister passed away last week. What is China's comment? How do you view his contributions to China-Australia relations?
A: Mr. Fraser has worked actively to promote China-Australia relations and bilateral friendship. The Chinese side mourns for him and expresses condolences to his families.
Q: Over the weekend, the US seemed to have reversed its position on the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), saying that it wants to cooperate with the AIIB. Is China willing to cooperate with the US on the AIIB after the US persuaded its allies not to take part?
A: Many countries have voiced their willingness to join the AIIB as prospective founding members, showcasing the wide recognition of AIIB's goal of promoting infrastructure building and serving the economic development in Asia. We also stress that we will establish and run the AIIB with a high standard, draw upon the good practices of major existing multilateral development banks and operate the AIIB with high efficiency, so as to make it an important investment and financing platform for infrastructure building and a multilateral development bank that complements the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and other multilateral development banks. We will stay open and inclusive and welcome the participation of interested countries in establishing and operating the AIIB.
Q: Has the Chinese side sent officials to attend the national day parade in Pakistan?
A: The Chinese side congratulates Pakistan on holding the national day celebration and wishes it a full success. We also wish Pakistan greater progress on its path toward national development. China and Pakistan have emerged from international vicissitudes as iron friends. The two sides highly understand, trust and support each other as good friends and partners sharing weal and woe. During Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Pakistan earlier this year, he announced that President Xi Jinping would pay a state visit to Pakistan within this year and as early as possible. That will be a historic visit since it is the first visit by a Chinese president to Pakistan in nine years. We hope that the visit by President Xi Jinping will further consolidate the all-weather friendship between China and Pakistan, deepen the all-round mutually beneficial cooperation and make the China-Pakistan community of common destiny the example and model of relationship between China and neighboring countries.
